Phonograph



April 10, 1934. 1.. JONES El AL PHONOGRAPH Filed Oct. 29, 1929 Ticyl.

POWER SUPPLY LINE POWER UNIT z/lo AND AMPLIFIER e5 um m m or M E O V mm T W05 M me O \n T Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHONOGBAPB tion of New York Application October 29, 1929, Serial No. 403,252

27 Claims. (Cl. 274-) This invention relates to phonographs, and more particularly to an interlocking control system for automatic record changing phonographs.

In an automatic record changing phonograph it isdesirable to employ only a single motor for both the rotation of the turn table and the operation of the record changing mechanism. The load in the first case is much lighter than in the second case, .and inasmuch as it is desirable for simplicity and maintenance to employ an induction motor, a considerably larger motor is needed if the motor is to have suificient starting torque to start up in the middle of the record changing operation.

One object of our invention is to make possible the use oi a small induction motor for both the turn table rotation and the record changing operation, and to this end we provide means, preferably in the form of a record change completion switch, connected in parallel with the power switch of the phonograph, to prevent the power from being shut oi! before the completion of the record changing operation. This feature is par- ,ticularly useful in the case of an automatic record changing phonograph such as is disclosed in copending applications of Lester L. Jones, Ser. Nos.

, 41,076, 341,077, and 341,078, filed February 19,

- 929, in which the record changing operation is performed by oscillating or rotating the record turn table about a horizontal axis. In such a record changing arrangement the load upon the driving motor may be large when the table is in a tilted position, and particularly when it is picking up a record from the record magazine during its upward oscillation, so that with a power switch arranged to control the energy supplied directly from the power main to the phonograph, if the power is shut off during the record changing operation the motor will be stalled or unable to start up when the power switch is again closed, unless a large size motor is employed.

In the said automatic phonograph means is provided, in the form of a no-record switch, to shut oil the phonograph when there is no record on the turn table, as is the case, for example, after the supply of records to be played has been exhausted. If it is desired to temporarily stop the phonograph in the middle of a-record, without discarding the said record, because of some interruption such as an incoming telephone call, it should be possible to open the power switch without having the no-record switch meanwhile complete the motor circuit. Also, it is desirable to prevent the amplifier. equipment of the phonograph from being energized when the phonograph is stopped by opening of the no-record switch because of the absence of a record on the turn table, for the power switch may inadvertently be left on. A further object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing difllculties, for which purpose we arrange the power switch and the no-record switch in series, and so connect them in circuit that they control the power supply not only to the driving motor of the phonograph, but also .to the balance of the electrical equipment of the phonograph. In this manner the phonograph may be stopped in the middle of a record by turning off the power switch, and may again be started at the same point, the norecord switch meanwhile remaining closed. On the other hand, when the no-record switch is opened because of the absence'of a record on the turn table the power is shut off from the entire electrical equipment of the phonograph Just as though the power switch had been manually opened.

A further difliculty remains because when the phonograph is to be started up with no record on the turn table closing of the power switch will not alone close the circuit because the no-record switch is open. To overcome this we provide a starter switch in parallel with the series combination of no record switch and power switch so that closing of the starter switch energizes the phonograph even though the no-record switch is open. The starter switch should for obvious reasons be a nonstick switch. To merely close the circuit and cause rotation of the turn table is not suflicient, it being further necessary to initiate a record changing operation in order to load the turn table with a record to be played. For this purpose a manual record changing trigger may be operated.

It would, of course, be undesirable to have to hold the starter switch closed for the full duration of the record changing operation in order to have a record close the no-record switch. This diiilculty is surmounted by the record change completion switch previously mentioned,

which is connected in parallel with the series table.

A further object of our invention is to reduce the number of necessary manual control elements and to simplify the operation and control of the phonograph. To this end a single manually operable means is arranged to control both the power switch and the starter switch. Also, as was previously mentioned, when the starter switch is closed it is desirable to trigger the phonograph for a record changing operation, and for this purpose a single manually operable means is arranged to actuate both the starter switch and the record changing trigger means. Finally, therefore, a. single manual control element is used, actuation of which controls the power switch, the starter switch, and the record changing trigger.

A still further object of our invention is to so interlock the various control and switch elements as to make the control of the phonograph exceedingly simple and practically foolproof. For this purpose means are provided to permit operation of the starter switch only when the power switch is on, for otherwise the phonograph might be started and come to rest after the record has been loaded on the turn table, owing to the power switch not having been closed. Interlocking means are also provided to prevent actuation oi the record changing trigger means except if the power switch is closed. The norecord switch and the record change completion switches are automatically operated and are so arranged in circuit that no diificulty therewith can ever arise regardless of manipulation of the manually operable switches.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, our invention consists in the elements and their relation one to the other as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by a drawing in which:

, Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram and schematic showing of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the control means of the phonograph;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken in the plane of the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a partially sectioned side elevation showing the trigger toggle and clutch mechanism for the record changing operation.

Referring to Fig. 1, the automatic phonograph comprises a record turn table 2 which is rotated by a driving motor 4. The record turn table is oscillatable about a fixed horizontal axis 6 for the record ejecting and record loading operations, and this oscillation is also caused by motor 4, in accordance with the disclosure in the copendlng applications of Lester L. Jones aforesaid. For this purpose the oscillatable mechanism includes not only the turntable 2 and motor 4, but also a crank disc 100 the crank pin of which is connected by means of a connecting rod 102 to a stationary bracket 104 fixedly mounted on the 1 outside chassis of the phonograph. It will be disc 160 may be connected by means of a reciprocable clutch pin 110, as is best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The clutch disc v106 is formed integrally with a gear 112 which in turn meshes with a worm 114 mounted on the drive shaft 116 of the phonograph turntable, It will thus be understood that clutch disc 106 is constantly rotated, and that upon movement of the clutch pin 110 into one of the perforations 108 of clutch disc 106, the crank 100 is rotated, thereby oscillating the phonograph turntable and associated mechanism bodily as a unit about the fixed pivot 6. Additional mechanism, omitted for the sake w. simplicity, causes disengagement of the clutch pin at the end of a single revolution of the crank disc, the clutch acting, in efiect, like any conventional 'single revolution clutch.

The phonograph is preferably of the electrical type, and therefore includes a power unit and amplifier 10 as additional electrically energized equipment. In the present circuit it will be observed that the motor 4 and the power unit 10 are connected electrically in parallel, so that the entire electrical equipment of the phonograph'is either energized or deenergized. Between the parallel combination of motor 4 and power unit 10, and the incoming power supply line 12, there is connected, through the leads 14' and 16, the entire control apparatus of the phonograph. Obviously, whenever the circuit between leads 14 and 16 is closed the phonograph is energized, and conversely, whenever the circuit between leads 14 and 16 is opened the phonograph is deenergized.

Between the leads 16 and 14 there is connected a series circuit consisting of lead 18, no-record switch 20, lead 22, power switch 30, and lead 26. No-record switch 20, which is in the form of a jack switch, is closed by its own spring action whenever wheel 28 is depressed by a record on the turn table 2. When there is no record on the turn table wheel 28 is elevated to the dotted position by a spring 24, and n'o-record switch 20 is opened. Obviously, the no-record switch may take other forms, it being only necessary to have a switch which is controlled by the presence or absenceof a record on the turn table.

Power switch 30 may also be in the form of a Jack switch, controlled by a cam 32 rotated by a control knob 34, the switch 30 being opened when control knob 34 is rotated counter-clock wisejgo the oil position, and closed when knob 34 is rotated clockwise to the on position. Obviously both the no-record switch 20 and the power switch 30 must be closed in order to energize the phonograph, and this is the case during normal reproducing operation of the phonograph.

In order to prevent the power from being shut ofi during the record changing operation, in general, by opening of the power switch 30, which places considerable load on the motor when the power is again applied, and also in the case of the particular circuit arrangement so far described, in order to prevent shutting 011 of the power because of opening of the no-record switch 20 during the record changing operation, we provide a record change completion switch 40, which may be in the form of a jack switch which is held open by a finger 42 projecting from the oscillatable turn table frame when the turn table is in its normal playing position, but which is closed as soon as the turn table is oscillated for a record loading, record changing, or record rejecting operation. Switch 40 is connected by conductors 44 and 46 in parallel with the series com! bination of no-record switch 20 and power switch 30, or, in other words, is connected directly across the leads 14 and 16 and therefore serves to energize the phonograph whenever the turn table is tilted and continues to do so until the turn table is restored to its upright position.

A starter switch 50 is connected by leads 52 and 54 directly across the leads 14 and 16, and therefore is also capable of independently energizing the phonograph. This is a non-stick switch, preferably in the form of a jack switch which may be closed by a disk 56 on a reciprocable spindle 58, which preferably is the same spindle that is rotated by knob 34. By pushing knob 34 inward the starter switch 50 is closed and the phonograph is energized. At the same time an additional projection 60 at the end of reciprocable shaft 58 may be used to trigger the phonograph for initiating a record changing operation. This immediately causes oscillation of turn table 2 about axis 6, which, in turn, closes the record change completion switch 40, so that the starter switch 50 need be closed only for a very short interval of time. Switch 40 remains closed until the record changing operation is completed, but at that time turn table 2 returns to its upright position with a record which depresses wheel 28 and permits the no-record switch 20 to close. This pauses the phonograph to continue to be energized despite the opening of the record change completion switch 40, provided, however, that the power switch 30 is also closed.

Ordinarily'the power switch would be closed before any attempt is made to operate the phonograph, but in order to make the operation foolproof means is provided to prevent operation of the starter switch 50, and of the trigger means 60, when the power switch 30 is open. This means may take the form of a bushing 62 provided with a slot 64 cooperating with a pin 66 on the reciprocable shaft 58. When the knob 34 is in the o position pin 66 prevents the knob from being depressed. Only if knob 34 is rotated to the on position is pin 66 brought in alinement with slot 64, in which case the knob may readily be depressed to start the phonograph.

The preferred structural arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 in which the panel 70 represents the front wall of the cabinet of the phonograph, 72 represents the side wall of the stationary chassis, while 74 is a fragment of the motor and turn table frame, which is oscillatably mounted on the stationary chassis 72 by pivotal bearings 6, only one of which is shown.

To the wall 72 of the chassis there is affixed a group or nest of jack switches, including the power switch 30, the record change completion switch 40, and the starter switch 50. The record change completion switch is held open when the frame is in the horizontal or normal playing position by a finger 42, rigidly aflixed to the oscillatable frame 74. Power switch 30 is controlled through an arm 31 by a cam surface 32 mounted on shaft 58 and rotated thereby. Starter switch 50 is controlled by longitudinal movement of shaft 58 through the forward face 56 of a disc, which in the present case acts also as the cam 32, that is to say, the periphery of the disc is used as the cam surface 32 for controlling the power switch 30, while one face of the disc is used for controlling the starter switch 50.

As is explained in a copending application of Lester L. Jones, Ser. No. 357,444, filed April 23, 1929, now Patent No. 1,939,768, dated May 16, 1933, and in a copending application of Thomas E. Piazze Ser. No. 386,247, filed August 16, 1929, now Patent No. 1,881,967, dated October 11, 1932,

the record changing operation is preferably are locked in alinement. This toggle is broken at the end of each record, and may be broken by a manually operable means when the phonograph is to be started, or a record is to be rejected.

This mechanism is best shown in Fig. 4 in which the compression spring 120 tends to urge rod 122 and with it the clutch pin actuating plate 124 to the right, as viewed in the drawing. The spring 120 is ordinarily kept under compression by a toggle consisting of arms and 82 pivotally connected at 84 and kept slightly below deadcenter alignment by stop arm formed integrally with toggle arm 80.

. In Fig. 2 a fragment of this toggle is shown, the toggle consisting of an arm 80, and another arm 82 pivoted to the arm 80 at 84. Am 82 is made integrally with a shaft 86 mounted in bearings 88, while arm 80 may be extended, as at 90, to provide means bearing against shaft 86 to lock the toggle slightly beyond alinement. Shaft 86 carries a downwardly extending rod 92, passing through a slot 94 in the frame 74, and resting opposite the enlarged end 60 on rod 58, so that whenknob 34 is depressed the end 60 bears against rod 92 and causes rotation of shaft 86 which opens or breaks the toggle, and so permits the record changing operation to begin. At the same time the starter switch 50 is closed. This is important when the phonograph is being 106 started with no record on the turn table. Meanwhile, the entire operation cannot be proceeded with unless knob 34 has been so rotated that the power switch 30 is closed.

Reflection will show that by means of the fore- 110 going arrangement it is impossible for the phonograph to be stopped during the record changing operation, so that a relatively small driving motor may be employed. It will further be obvious that the phonograph may be stopped and then started power switch is left on. The control elements are 130 reduced to a single manually operable means, and the switches and trigger means are so interlocked that the control arrangement is practically foolproof.

The instructions to the user of the machine may be reduced to simply a statement that the button is to be pushed to start the machine, and

also to reject the record if it is disliked; that if the button cannot be pushed it should be turned to where it can be pushed; and that the button should be turned to the 017" position to stop the machine.

It will be apparent that while we have shown and described our invention in the preferred form, many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. The combination with electrically operated automatic record changing phonograph mechanism, of a power switch for closing or opening the main phonograph supply circuit, trigger means for setting into motion a record changing operation of the phonograph, a single manually operable means for controlling the power switch and the trigger means, and means to prevent operation of the trigger means when the power switch is opened.

2. In an automatic record changing phonograph, a no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, trigger means for setting into motion a record changing operation of the phonograph, and a single manually operable means for controlling the power switch and the trigger means. 7 r

3. In an automatic record changing phonoe graph, an automatically operated no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, trigger means for setting into motion a record changing operation of the phonograph, a single manually operable means for controlling the power switch and the trigger means, and means to prevent operation of the trigger means when the power switch is open.

. 4. The combination with electrically operated automatic phonograph mechanism, of a main power supply switch for closing or opening the main phonograph supply. circuit, a starter switch for closing or opening an auxiliary starting circuit, and a single manually operable means for controlling both the power supply switch and the starter switch and for permitting closing of the starter switch while the power supply switch is closed.

5. The combination with electrically operated automatic phonograph mechanism, of a power switch for closing or opening the main phonograph supply circuit, a starter switch for opening or closing an auxiliary starting circuit, a single manually operable means for controlling both the power switch and the starter switch, and

means to prevent operation of the starter switch when the power switch is opened.

. 6. In an automatic phonograph, a no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, a starter switch, and a single manually operable means for controlling the power switch and the starter switch.

'7. In an automatic record changing phonograph, an automatically operated no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, a. starter switch, a singlemanually operable means for controlling the power switch and the starter switch, and means to prevent operation of the starter switch when the power switch is open.

8. In an automatic record changing phonograph, an automatically operated no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, a starter switch connected in parallel with the aforesaid series combination, a single manually operable means for controlling the power switch and the starter switch, and means to prevent operation of the starter switch when the power switch is open,

9. The combination with electrically operated automatic record changing phonograph mechanism, of apower switch for closing or opening the main phonograph supply circuit, a starter switch for closing or opening an auxiliary starting circuit, trigger means for setting into motion 2. record changing operation of the phonograph, and a single manually operable means for controlling the power switch, the starter switch, and the trigger means.

and of the trigger means when the power switch is open.

11. In an automatic record'changing phonograph. a no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, a starter switch, trigger means for setting into motion a record changing operation of the phonograph, and a single manually operable means for controlling the op--' eration of the power switch, the starter switch, and the trigger means. 7

12. In an automatic record changing phonograph, an automatically operated no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, a starter switch, trigger means for setting into motion a record changing operation of the phonograph, a single manually operable means for controlling the operation of the power switch, the starter switch, and the trigger means, and means to prevent operation of the starter and of the trigger means when the power switch is open. g

13. In an automatic record changing phonograph, an automatically operated no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, a starter switch connected in parallel with the aforesaid series combination, trigger means for setting into motion a record changing operation of the phonograph, a single manually operable means for controlling the operation of the power switch, the starter switch, and the trigger means, and means to prevent operation of the starter means and the trigger means when the power switch is open.

14. The combination with an electrically oper- -ated automatic record changing phonograph,

including a turntable, means to rotate the turntable, means to move the tumtable as a part of the record changing operation, and a single driving motor for both rotating the turntable and moving the turntable, a main power supply switch therefor, manually operable means for fixedly closing or fixedly opening said switch, and a record change completion switch arranged to prevent the power to said motor from being shut off by the power supply switch before the completion of the record changing operation.

15. In an automatic record changing phonograph, a single'driving motor for both the turn- 20 table and the record changing operation, an auto matically operated no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, and a record change completion switch connected in parallel with the series combination of no-record switch :23

and power switch in order to prevent the power to said motor from being shut off before the completion of the record changing operation.

16. In an automatic record changing phonograph, a power switch, trigger means for setting into motion a record changing operation of the phonograph, means to prevent operation of the trigger means when the power switch is opened, and means to prevent the power from being shut ofi by the power switch before the completion of the record changing operation.

17. In an automatic record changing phonograph, a power switch, trigger means for setting into motion a record changing operation of the phonograph, a single manually operable means for controlling the power switch and the trigger means, means to prevent operation of the trigger means when the power switch is opened, and means to prevent the power from being shut ofi by the power switch before the completion of the record changing operation.

' 18. In an automatic record changing phonograph, anautomatically operated no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, trigger means for setting into motion a record changing operation of the phonograph, means to prevent operation of the trigger means when the power switch is open, and a record change completion switch connected in parallel with the series combination of no-record switch and power switch in "order to prevent the power from being shut ofi before the completion of the record changing operation.

19. In an automatic record change phonograph, an automatically operated no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, trigger means for setting into motion a record changing operation of the phonograph, a single manually operable means for controlling the power switch and the trigger, means to prevent operation of thetrigger means when the power switch is open, and a record change completion switch connected in parallel with the series combination of no-record switch and power switch in order to prevent the power from being shut off before the completion of the record changing operation.

20. In an automatic record changing phonograph characterized by successive record playing and record changing operations, a power switch, a starter switch, means to prevent operation of the starter switch when the power switch is opened, and means to prevent the power from being shut off by the power switch in the middle of a record changing operation.

21. In an automatic record changing phonograph characterized by successive record playing and record changing operations, a power switch, a starter switch, a single manually operable means for controlling both the power switch and the starter switch, means to prevent operation of the starter switch when the power switch is opened, and means to prevent the power from being shut off by the power switch in the middle of a record changing operation.

22. In an automatic record changing phonograph, an automatically operated no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, a starter switch, means to prevent operation of the starter switch when the power switch is opened, and a record change completion switch connected in parallel with the series combination of no-record switch and power switch in order to prevent the power from being shut off before the completion of the record changing operation.

23. In an automatic record changing phonograph, an automatically operated no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, a starter switch connected in parallel with the aforesaid series combination, a single manually operable means for controlling the power switch and the starter switch, means to prevent operation of the starter switch when the power switch is open, and a record change completion switch connected in parallel with the starter switch in order to prevent the power from being shut oif before the completion of the record changing operation.

24. In an automatic record changing phonograph, a power switch, a starter switch, trigger means for setting into motion a record changing operation of the phonograph, means to prevent operation of the starter switch and of the trigger means when the power switch is open, and-means to prevent the power from being shut off before the completion of the record changing operation.

25. In an automatic record changing phonograph, a power switch, a starter switch, trigger means for setting into motion a record changing operation of the phonograph, a single manually operable means for controlling the power switch, the starter switch, and the trigger means, means to prevent operation of the starter switch and of the trigger means when the power switch is open, and means to prevent the power from being shut ofi before-the completion of the record changing operation.

26. In an automatic record changing phonograph, an automatically operated no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, a starter switch, trigger means for setting into motion a record changing operation of the phonograph, means to prevent operation of the vstarter switch and of the trigger means when the power switch is open, and a record change completion switch connected in parallel with the series combination of no-record switch and power switch in order to prevent the power from being shut off before the completion of the record changing operation.

27. In an automatic record changing phonograph, an automatically operated no-record switch, a power switch connected in series therewith, a starter switch connected in parallel with the aforesaid series combination, trigger means for setting into motion a record changing operation of the phonograph, a single manually operable means for controlling the operation of the power switch, the starter switch, and the trigger means, means to prevent operation of the starter and of the trigger means when the power switch is open, and a record change completion switch connected in parallel with the starter switch in order to prevent the power from being shut off before the completion of the record changing operation.

LESTER L. JONES. THOMAS E. PIAZZE. 

